President Edgar Lungu shake hands with Vice Chair of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Democratic Republic of Congo Bishop Fridolin Ambongo whilst Secretary General of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Democratic Republic of Congo Bishop Donatien Nshole shortly meeting the President at State HouseThe Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolutions of Disputes (SACCORD) has commended the Catholic Bishops from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo for showing humility by seeking guidance from their Zambian counterparts.

Commenting on the gesture by DRC Catholic Bishops to visit their Christian counterparts from Zambia for guidance, SACCORD Executive Director Boniface Cheembe noted that the gesture by the DRC Catholic Bishops demostrated an earnest call and desire for their country to have peaceful elections and asher into office a legitimate government.

“SACCORD welcomes and commends the Catholic Bishops from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for being humble to come and get guidance from their fellow Christians in Zambia.

“Their being humble is an earnest call and desire for the DRC to have peaceful elections and ensure that the DRC puts in a place a legitimate government that will govern the country for the next five years,” he said.

And Cheembe said his organisation welcomes the position taken by Republican President Edgar Lungu who is the chairperson for the SADC organ on Peace, Defense and Security, to appeal to the DRC to have all candidates wishing to participate in the elections to be allowed to do so.

He explained that a strong demicracy lies in ensuring that people wishing to participate are allowed to do so without any hinderance.

“Democracy that is inclusive and allows for the free participation of everyone is durable and forms a solid foundation for peace. We want to encourage the DRC Bishops to ensure that they include other Christian and non-christian faiths in that country to participate in the dialogue and peace process of that country. This spirit of inclusivity is in line with the appeal that all eligible candidates in the DRC should be allowed to contest.

“Although Zambia has largely been peaceful we believe that one of the biggest lesson to be learned by stakeholders is to ensure that consultations must be broad and that at times need may arise to cross borders and consult with the DRC or indeed any other country. What the DRC Bishops have done is to show high levels of commitment and boldness to peace which is something that we as a nation must continue to nurture and appreciate,” he said.